Social Emotional Learning

At The Raleigh School we believe that the social and emotional aspect of children’s development is as important as the academic component.Our elementary teachers are trained in the Responsive Classroom approach and work hard to proactively address the social and emotional needs of children. Teachers take the time to get to know students, and they are valued and respected as individuals. Cooperative group skills, conflict resolution, and intrinsic motivation are actively fostered. From the earliest ages, children learn to resolve conflict, negotiate desired outcomes, and serve as leaders. This is part of the reason we say there is no back of the classroom at The Raleigh School - involvement comes naturally.

Through Responsive Classroom practices such as holding morning meetings, interactive modeling and the intentional use of teacher language, teachers help students to learn a set of social and emotional competencies (cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self-control) and a set of academic competencies (academic mindset, perseverance, learning strategies, and academic behaviors) that encourage success in and out of school.

In addition to the work that goes on in each of our classrooms, The Raleigh School has a school counselor who works closely with our teachers, students, and families. The counselor works with children in their classrooms to reinforce important social-emotional concepts. We have developed a continuum of skills to guide students, ensuring that our graduates are not only well-prepared and competent in the academic arena but also compassionate human beings who understand their ability to positively impact their world.